JP2003216352A - Network printing system, network printing method and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To transmit picture data (print data) whose size is large through a network to a remote receiving/printing device to quickly and surely print out the picture data. <P>SOLUTION: Generated print data are transferred from a transmission side device 10 to a storage device 20. Key information preparation information generated based on the print data by the storage device 20 is replied to an inquiry from the transmission side device 10. In the transmission side device 10, key information A and B is generated based on the replied key information preparation information, and a drawer program including the key information B and a key mail including the drawer program are generated, and the key mail is transmitted to the mail server 30. Then, the print data corresponding to the key information B are retrieved, and downloaded from the storage device 20, and printed out based on the drawer program included in the key mail received by a receiving/printing device 40. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network printing system for transmitting print data from a scanner, a computer or the like to a printer or the like at a remote place for printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various improvements have been proposed for a technique for transmitting data to various devices located far away through a network. For example, an example of a conventional technique for transmitting print data to a printer at a remote place and executing a print process using an electronic mail technique is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-841.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 91-91 discloses a document output support method and apparatus.

The document output support method and apparatus disclosed in this publication extracts an attached document from an electronic mail acquired through a network, and uses an application corresponding to the extracted attached document to generate a PDL (Page description).
on-language: printer description language). With such a configuration, the user can print the attached document to the print server by simply transferring the e-mail including the attached document to a predetermined e-mail address at the transmission source client connected to the network. Processing can be executed.

An example of a conventional technique for transmitting a large-sized electronic mail is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-270008 as a compound mail transmitting system, a compound mail transmitting method therefor, and a recording medium. As shown in FIG. 16, a composite mail transmission system, a composite mail transmission method, and a recording medium disclosed in this publication separates an electronic mail (composite data) into a first data part and a second data part. A first transmission device 120 for receiving and storing the first data portion, a second transmission device 130 for receiving and storing the second data portion, and a first data portion from the first transmission device 120, The receiving device 140 is configured to download the second data part from the second transmitting device 130 based on the received first data part.

Here, the first data section is composed of text data, and has access information to the second data section stored in the second transmission device 130. On the other hand, the second data section is the main body of data transferred from the transmission device 110 to the reception device 140. Then, in the receiving device 140, the first receiving means 141 acts on the access requesting means 142 to access the second transmitting device 130, and the second data portion accumulated in the second transmitting device 130 The receiving means 143 downloads it.

With such a configuration, the compound mail transmission system, the compound mail transmission method, and the recording medium are
Regardless of the environment on the receiving side, as a result, large size data such as an image is transmitted via the network to the transmitting device 1.
10 to the receiving device 140.

[0007]

However, since the conventional document output support method and apparatus transmit print data by electronic mail, it is difficult to transmit print data including an image and the like because of its large size. there were. In particular, the size of files transmitted and received on a local network tends to increase with the progress of devices and applications.
te files are also exchanged.

On the other hand, the size of the outgoing mail handled by the electronic mail sending server (for example, the SMTP server, etc.) is normally 1-2 Mby so that the load does not become too heavy.
te, and the size of the mailbox of the e-mail receiving server (for example, POP3 server) is also limited to about 2 to 20 Mbytes due to problems such as equipment cost. Therefore, there has been a demand for providing a transmission technique capable of transferring a large size file without attaching it to an e-mail.

Further, in the conventional composite mail transmission system, the composite mail transmission method and the recording medium, the electronic mail is separated into the first data part (access information) and the second data part (composite data), Among them, the first data part was transmitted to the receiving device 140, and then the second data part was transferred to the second transmitting device (storage device) 130.

Here, the size of the second data part composed of the data body is usually smaller than that of the first data part composed of the text data. Therefore, even if the receiving device receives the first data part and clicks the displayed URL, the storage device has not yet completed the reception of the second data part from the transmitting means. In the above, there was a problem that the second data section could not be accessed and print output could not be executed promptly.

Particularly, when the second data portion is print data having an image, this data size is several tens of Mbytes.
Since the size becomes large, the difference between the time until the receiving device finishes receiving the first data portion and the time until the storage device finishes receiving the print data becomes more remarkable. In this case, the receiving device can be made to confirm that the reception of the second data section from the transmitting device in the storage device is completed. As a method of this confirmation, for example, access retry or reception of a transfer completion message can be considered.

[0012] However, it is not preferable in terms of security to adopt the access retry. On the other hand, the new reception of the transfer completion message means that the network is used more and the cost increases. Under such circumstances, it is desired that the receiving device be provided with a technology capable of surely accessing the print data immediately after receiving the first data portion, and printing out the print data immediately after downloading. It was

Further, in the conventional compound mail transmission system, the compound mail transmission method, and the recording medium, the user acquires an image by clicking the clickable URL displayed on the screen of the personal computer on the receiving device 140. Then, in order to print this image, a normal print processing operation is performed. For this reason,
Even if the image data is transmitted from a distant place through the network, the image data is not printed out by the receiving device 140 which is the transmission destination unless it is manually operated. Therefore, like the FAX function, the receiving device 140 that is the destination of the transmitted data.
Could not be automatically printed out.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a printing device at a remote place without attaching a large size data (especially image data) which is difficult to send by e-mail to the e-mail. A network that can be sent to a receiving device that has received an e-mail containing a withdrawal program, can download print data reliably and quickly, and can immediately print out the downloaded print data without human intervention. The purpose is to provide a printing system.

Another conventional example of transferring a large file through a network is Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-05.
Japanese Patent No. 8034 discloses an electronic mail system, a mail tool, and a withdrawal program. The electronic mail system, the mail tool, and the withdrawal program disclosed in this gazette are used before, after, or in parallel with the transfer of the content information from the transmission device (transmission side client) to the storage device (DB server). An email (key mail) was being sent to the client on the side.

Therefore, in this conventional example, the technique is such that the transmission of the electronic mail from the transmitting device to the receiving device is executed after the transfer of the content information from the transmitting device to the accumulating device is surely completed. The above-mentioned purpose could not be achieved because there is no disclosure about the objective method.

[0017]

In order to achieve the above object, a network printing system according to claim 1 of the present invention is a sender that generates print data, a withdrawal program, and an electronic mail including the withdrawal program. A device, a storage device that saves print data from the sending device, and a mail server that saves e-mail from the sending device,
A network printing system having a reception printing device for downloading print data from a storage device based on a withdrawal program included in an electronic mail from the mail server, wherein a transmission side device transfers the print data to the storage device. When finished, send an email to your mail server,
The reception printing device is configured to print the downloaded print data.

When the network printing system is configured as described above, print data can be transmitted and received through the network via a route different from electronic mail, so even if print data of a large size including an image is received and printed from the sending side device. Transmission to the device is possible. Therefore, even large-sized print data including an image can be transmitted from the transmission side device to the reception printing device, and the reception printing device can be made to perform a printing process.

Furthermore, since the sending side device decides to execute the transmission of the electronic mail to the mail server after the transfer of the print data to the storage device is completed, it has already been completed when the receiving printing device receives the electronic mail. This means that the storage device has finished receiving print data. Therefore, when receiving the e-mail, the receiving printing device can quickly and surely download the print data from the storage device and start printing.

In the conventional composite mail transmission system, after transmitting the text data portion of the electronic mail to the mail server, the composite data portion is transmitted to the storage device. The order of this transmission is determined according to the order of the structure because the electronic mail has a structure having a mail header, a text data part which is a text body, and an attached composite data part. On the other hand, in the network printing system of the present invention, the transmission order is not the structural order, but the composite data section (print data) is first, so that the reception delay of the print data in the reception printing apparatus can be prevented.
It prevents the reception failure.

Further, as in the conventional case, when the sending side device transfers the print data to the storage device after transmitting the electronic mail to the mail server, the transfer is completed in the receiving printing device. Access to the storage device to retry,
It is also conceivable to receive a message indicating the completion of the transfer from the storage device. However, access retry is not preferable in terms of security, while reception of the transfer completion message increases communication cost.

On the other hand, in the network printing system of the present invention, the receiving printer does not retry the access or receive the transfer completion message, but only once to access the storage device, and quickly and reliably. Print data can be downloaded.

In the network printing system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the storage device generates the key information creation information for the print data, and the transmission side device uses the first and the first information based on the key information creation information from the storage device. (2) Generates the key information, embeds the generated first key information in the withdrawal program, and generates an e-mail including this withdrawal program and sends it to the mail server. (2) The key information and print data are stored in association with each other, and the receiving printing device accesses the storage device based on the withdrawal program included in the e-mail from the mail server, and uses the first key information embedded in the withdrawal program. The corresponding print data is searched, downloaded, and printed.

If the network printing system has such a configuration, the print data is managed in the storage device in association with the key information, so that the security of the print data can be improved. In particular, by generating two mathematically related key information, tampering by a third party can be made difficult.

Furthermore, since the transmitting side device receives the key information creation information from the storage device and then generates the key information, the withdrawal program and the key mail, it is inevitable to send the key mail to the receiving printing device. After the transfer of the print data from the transmission device to the storage device is completed. Therefore, since the print data is already stored in the storage device when the e-mail is received by the reception printing device, the reception printing device reliably downloads the print data from the storage device when the e-mail is received. it can.

Further, in the network printing system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the transmission side device converts the print data into a printer description language in advance, and the reception printing device automatically starts printing the downloaded print data. It was configured. If the network printing system is configured in this way, the print data is converted into the printer description language in advance on the sending side device, and therefore the print data downloaded based on the drawing program is manually operated on the receiving printing device. It is possible to automatically and promptly print out the data without going through.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the network printing system, the transmission side device stores a print manuscript generating means for generating print data, a print data generating means for converting the print data into a printer description language, and print data. The data processing and sending means sends the electronic mail including the withdrawal program to the apparatus and sends the electronic mail to the mail server.

If the network printing system is configured in this way, the print data is sent to the storage device and the electronic mail is sent to the mail server. Therefore, when the receiving printing device subsequently receives the electronic mail from the mail server. Print data can be downloaded from the storage device and printed. Therefore, the print data can be transferred from the transmission device to the reception printing device without being attached to the e-mail, so that the size of the transferred print data does not matter.

Further, in the data processing transmission means,
Since the sending of the e-mail to the mail server is executed after the transfer of the print data to the storage device is completed, the receiving printing device may download the print data and start printing immediately after receiving the e-mail. it can.

Further, in the network printing system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the transmission side device is composed of a personal computer, the print manuscript generating means is composed of application software, and the print data generating means is composed of a printer driver. When the network printing system has such a configuration, in the transmission side device constituted by the personal computer, it is generated by the print manuscript generating means which is the application software and is converted into the printer description language by the print data generating means which is the printer driver. The printed data can be transferred to the receiving printing device and printed out.

According to a sixth aspect of the network printing system of the present invention, the transmission side device is a copying machine or a multi-function peripheral device, and the print manuscript generating means is a scanner unit of the copying machine or the multi-function peripheral device. did. If the network printing system is configured as described above, in the transmission side device configured by the copying machine or the multi-function peripheral device, the image captured by the print manuscript generating unit including the scanner unit is used as print data and is transmitted to the reception printing device. It can be transferred and printed out.

Further, in the network printing system according to the seventh aspect, the print manuscript generating means is constituted by a scanner machine. With such a configuration of the network printing system, it is possible to transfer the image captured by the print manuscript generating unit including the scanner as print data to the receiving printing apparatus and print it out.

Further, in the network printing system according to the eighth aspect of the invention, the print manuscript generating means is constituted by an image pickup device such as a digital camera. If the network printing system has such a configuration, the image captured by the print manuscript generating unit configured by the imaging device is
As print data, it can be transferred to a receiving printing device and printed out.

Further, in the network printing system according to the ninth aspect, the scanner section of the copying machine, the scanner section of the multi-functional peripheral device, the scanner machine or the image pickup device, which constitutes the print manuscript generating means, has the print data generating means. It was configured. With such a configuration of the network printing system, the print data generated in the scanner unit of the copying machine, the scanner unit of the multi-function peripheral device, the scanner machine or the imaging device, and further converted into the printer description language is sent to the receiving printing device. It can be transferred and printed out.

Further, in the network printing system according to the tenth aspect of the invention, the transmitting side device is constituted by a scanner machine or an image pickup device. With such a configuration of the network printing system, the print data generated in the transmission side device configured by the scanner or the imaging device and further converted into the printer description language is transferred to the reception printing device and printed out. be able to.

Further, in the network printing system according to the eleventh aspect, the personal computer, the copying machine, the multi-function peripheral device, the scanner device or the image pickup device which constitutes the transmission side device has a storage device. When the network printing system has such a configuration, the number of devices that make up the network printing system can be reduced.

In particular, the configuration in which the storage device is incorporated in the controller such as a copying machine that constitutes the transmission side device is mainly used on the intranet. The controller of the copying machine may be composed of a server as hardware, and can have the function of a storage device by adding software and a network interface.

According to the twelfth aspect of the network printing system, the receiving printing device comprises a copying machine, a multi-function peripheral device or a printer. With such a configuration of the network printing system, in these copying machines, multifunction peripherals or printers that compose the receiving printing device, based on the withdrawal program from the mail server,
The print data can be downloaded from the storage device and automatically printed out.

Therefore, the user transfers the image captured by the transmission side device to the copying machine, the multifunction peripheral device or the printer which constitutes the receiving printing device, and prints the image immediately after reception in the copying machine or the like. Data can be printed out. That is, these copiers, multifunction peripherals or printers can be used like a FAX.

Further, in the network printing method according to the thirteenth aspect, the transmission side device generates print data, and the storage device generates key information creation information based on the print data from the transmission side device, and the transmission side device. Is, to generate the first and second key information based on the key information creation information from the storage device, to generate a withdrawal program in which the generated first key information is embedded, and an electronic mail including this withdrawal program, This generated email is sent to the mail server,
The second key information is transmitted to each storage device, and the storage device stores the print data and the second key information in association with each other,
Based on the withdrawal program included in the e-mail from the mail server, the receiving printing device retrieves the print data corresponding to the first key information from the storage device, downloads the retrieved print data, and prints it. .

If the network printing method is such a method, the print data is transferred from the transmission side device to the reception printing device through a route different from that of the electronic mail. Therefore, the size of the print data is a problem in this transfer. It does not become. Therefore, even a large size image such as an image can be transferred to the receiving printing apparatus as print data.

Further, in the transmitting side device, since the electronic mail is transmitted to the mail server after the print data is transferred to the storage device, the receiving printing device executes the withdrawal program included in the received electronic mail. hand,
You can certainly download the print data. That is, the receiving printing device can download the print data from the storage device and print it out immediately after receiving the e-mail.

A network printing program according to a fourteenth aspect of the invention is a withdrawal program for transferring print data printed out by the receiving printing device to the storage device and causing the receiving printing device to download the print data from the storage device. Is a network printing program that causes the sending side device to execute the process of sending to the receiving printing device via the mail server by sending the print data to the storage device, and is generated based on this printing data. The key information creation information is received from the storage device, the first and second key information is generated based on the received key information creation information, and the withdrawal program in which the generated first key information is embedded and this withdrawal program And the email containing it is generated, and this generated email is sent to the mail server.
Further, the transmitting side device is configured to execute the process of transmitting the respective second key information to the storage device.

If the transmission side apparatus is made to execute such a network print program, the transmission side apparatus is
Since the print data is transferred to the receiving printing apparatus by a route different from the electronic mail, it is possible to transfer the print data of a large size. Further, since the sending device transfers the print data to the storage device and then sends the e-mail to the mail server based on the network printing program, the receiving printing device can execute the withdrawal program included in the received e-mail. Based on this, the print data can be surely downloaded and the print output can be executed.

[0045]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First Embodiment First, a first embodiment of the network printing system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network printing system of this embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the network printing system 1 has a transmission side device 10, a storage device 20, a mail server 30, and a reception printing device 40. Here, the transmission side device 10 has a print manuscript generating means 11, a print data creating means 12, a data processing transmitting means 13, a storing means 14, a destination information inputting means 15, and a displaying means 16.
And have.

The print manuscript generating means 11 has a function of generating print data (manuscript data), and as shown in FIG. 2, is installed in, for example, a personal computer (PC) 50 constituting the transmitting side device 10. It can be configured by the application 11-1. Examples of the application 11-1 include a word processor and C
There are applications such as AD. With such a configuration, the character / graphic data and the like generated by the application 11-1 can be transmitted as print data to the reception printing device 40 and can be printed out.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the print manuscript generating means 11 can be constituted by, for example, the scanner section 11-2 of the single scanner device 60 which constitutes the transmitting side device 10. The scanner 60 may be provided with print data creating means 12, storage means 14, destination information input means 15, and display means 16 as shown in FIG. Further, the print manuscript generating means 11 is a copier or an MFP (Multifunction Periph) not shown.
erals: multifunction peripheral device).

With such a configuration, an image read by each scanner (the scanner 60, the copying machine or the scanner portion in the MFP) is used as print data.
It can be transferred to the receiving printing device 40 at a remote place and printed out. The MFP is an OA device generally used in an office or the like, for example, a device that aggregates functions provided to a user by a copier, a facsimile, a printer, etc., and provides efficient office work. Say. Further, the data processing transmission means 1 as shown in FIG.
The data processing and transmitting device 70 having the number 3 can be configured by a personal computer.

Further, the print manuscript generating means 11 is a CCD.
It can also be configured by an imaging device (not shown) represented by a digital camera or the like that incorporates the above. In this case, the image captured by the digital camera can be transmitted as print data to the reception printing device 40 and can be printed out.

The print data creating means 12 converts the print data from the print manuscript generating means 11 into PDL data which can be printed by the receiving printing device 40. When the transmission side device 10 is composed of a personal computer, the print data creating means 12 is composed of a printer driver. Also,
The print data creating means 12 can be included in the print manuscript generating means 11. That is, the print manuscript generating means 11
A printer driver function may be provided in the scanner unit 60, the copying machine, or the scanner portion of the MFP, which constitutes the print data creating means 12.

The data processing / transmitting means 13 has a destination information input function, a print data input / transfer function, an inquiry function, a key information generation function, a key information transfer function, a withdrawal program generation function, a key mail generation function and a key mail transmission function. Have The destination information input function is a function of the data processing transmission means 13 to retrieve one or more destination information from the storage means 14 or input from the destination information input means 15.

The destination information is information of a printing destination represented by an electronic mail address, that is, information for specifying the receiving printing apparatus 40. A plurality of this destination information can be stored in the storage means 14 in advance. Details of the destination information input function will be described later.

The print data input transfer function means a function of transferring the print data from the print data creating means 12 to the storage device 20. When print data is transmitted by the print data input transfer function, the storage device 20 generates key information creation information for the received print data.
By causing the storage device 20 to generate the key information creation information, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of the problem that the same key information as the already used key information is generated for other content information, and is suitable for the storage device 20. Key information can be created.

The inquiry function is a function of making an inquiry to the storage device 20 and receiving an answer (key information creation information). The key information generation function is a function of generating two key information A (first key information) and key information B (second key information) mathematically related to each other, based on the key information creation information received by the inquiry function. Say. The details of the key information will be described later.

The key information transfer function is a function of transferring the key information B to the storage device 20. The key information B transferred by the key information transfer function is stored in the storage device 20 in association with the print data. The withdrawal program generation function is a function of creating a withdrawal program by combining necessary data (for example, key information (key A)) with a template of the withdrawal program retrieved from the storage unit 14. The details of this withdrawal program will be described later.

The key mail generating function is a function of generating a key mail (electronic mail) for transmitting the key information (key A) and the withdrawal program to the receiving and printing apparatus 40. This key mail has the withdrawal program in which the key information (key A) is embedded.

Since the key mail itself needs only a small size (for example, about 1 Kbyte), there are several dozens regardless of the restrictions on the electronic mail sending server such as the SMTP server (described later) and the electronic mail receiving server such as the POP3 server (described later). Large-sized print data such as Mbyte can be simultaneously delivered to a large number of receiving printing devices 40. Furthermore, since the print data stored in the storage device 20 cannot be retrieved without the key information, it is difficult to access the print data except for the specific receiving printing device 40 that received the key mail. This ensures the confidentiality of communication.

The key mail transmission function means that the key mail generated by the key mail generation function is sent to the mail server 30.
The function to send to. The transmission of this key mail is executed by a mail tool (a tool for transmitting electronic mail) read by the data processing transmission means 13.

Since the data processing transmission means 13 has these functions, it is possible to transmit the key mail to the mail server 30 after the transfer of the print data to the storage device 20 is completed. Therefore, since the print data is already stored in the storage device 20 when the key mail is received by the receiving printing device 40, the receiving printing device 40
Can securely and promptly download the print data and execute the print processing.

In particular, since the print data is several tens of Mbytes and the key mail is about 1 Kbytes, the time required to complete the transmission greatly differs. Further, if the extraction (drawing) of the print data is unsuccessful, the storage device 20 may determine that the data has been tampered with by a third party, and therefore the print data needs to be surely downloaded for the withdrawal process. . Therefore, by performing the transmission of the key mail from the transmission side device 10 after the storage of the print data in the storage device 20 is completed, the receiving printing device 40 can reliably extract the print data.

The data processing / transmitting means 13 does not have the separating means 111 in the composite mail transmission system 100 shown in FIG. In the conventional compound mail transmission system 100, since the input data is an electronic mail, the text of the electronic mail and the attached file are separated from the mail header as content information. However, in the present invention, the data processing transmission means 1
Since the destination information and the print data input in 3 are independent of each other, it is not necessary to have a separating means.

The data processing / transmitting means 13 having such a configuration can be included in the print manuscript generating means 11. That is, the data processing transmission function is provided in the scanner unit 11-2 constituting the print manuscript generating means 11, the scanner portion (not shown) of the copying machine, or the scanner portion (not shown) of the MFP, and the data processing transmission function is provided. It can be means 13.

Further, the data processing / transmitting means 13 uses the SMT.
It may be provided in an electronic mail transmission server represented by the P server 31 (an electronic mail transmission server included in the mail server 30). The electronic mail transmitting server having the data processing / transmitting means 13 receives the print data from the transmitting side device 10 through the network and transmits the print data to the storage device 20, and the key mail is the electronic mail receiving server represented by the POP3 server 32. (E-mail receiving server of mail server 30).

Furthermore, the electronic mail transmission server having the data processing transmission means 13 can also have the storage device 20. In this case, the print data is sent from the data processing transmission means 13 to the storage device 20 without passing through the network.
Sent to.

The data processing / transmitting means 13 and the print data creating means 12 may be integrated into a printer driver. In this case, the e-mail address of the receiving printing device 40 as the port of the printing destination, and
It is also possible to preset the storage device 20 (FTP server 21) as a storage destination when the print data is saved as a file. The storage unit 14 stores a drawing program template, destination information, and the like. Address information input means 1
Reference numeral 5 is composed of a keyboard, a touch panel, and the like.

The display means 16 displays a printer driver setting screen as shown in FIG. This setting screen is
It includes setting items relating to print processing of print data in the reception printing device 40. In the figure, in "Print destination port", by clicking "Add port", it is possible to set the e-mail address that is the destination of the key mail. The “server” setting is a setting for logging in to the server 21. This setting is in a form according to ftp in the figure. Note that the key information is automatically generated by the data processing and transmitting means 13 and is not set by the user.

The storage device 20 is a file server connected to the Internet, and has a data processing transmission means 13.
When the print data is received from, the key information creation information for this print data is generated, and the inquiry from the data processing transmission means 13 is answered by returning the key information creation information. In addition, the storage device 20 is the transmission side device 10.
When receiving the key information B generated in
And the print data are stored (stored) in association with each other.

Further, the storage device 20 includes the reception printing device 4
When the access from 0 is approved, the receiving printing device 40
The key information A is received from, the print data corresponding to the key information A is retrieved, taken out, and transmitted to the reception printing device 40. This search is performed based on the fact that the key information A and the key information B are mathematically related and that the key information B and the print data are stored in association with each other.

The print data retrieved is received by the receiving printing device 4
Downloaded to 0. As a result, the transmitting device 10
The print data transmitted from the printer is transferred to the receiving printing device 40 via the storage device 20 and printed out. The storage device 20 does not delete the stored print data even after it has been transmitted to all the receiving and printing devices 40, and keeps storing the print data for a certain period of time or unless there is a special command so that the print data of the print data is stored. You can also prove the authentic content. Furthermore, the data may be transferred and stored in a non-rewritable non-volatile storage medium before erasing.

The storage device 20 includes a plurality of data storage servers (FTP (File Transfer Pro).
server) or Web server). In this case, the withdrawal program can include data storage server identification information that identifies one of the data storage servers. With such a configuration, when a large number of receiving printing apparatuses 40 start to download the same print data at the same time, the load due to this download can be distributed to each data storage server, so that the download speed is prevented from decreasing. be able to.

The storage device 20 can be provided in the transmission side device 10 as shown in FIG. That is, the scanner 60, the copying machine, or the MFP (collectively referred to as the controller-incorporated device 80) that configures the transmission-side device 10 can be provided with a storage function to serve as the storage device 20.

The configuration shown in FIG. 5 is a combination that can be used mainly for an intranet, and the storage device 20
Is incorporated in the controller of the copying machine 17-1. The controller of the copying machine 17-1 may be composed of a server as hardware, and if software and a network interface are added, the storage device 2
It can have the function of 0. For example, if it is used within a limited range of the in-house network, it is not necessary to connect to the external Internet, and it is possible to immediately start providing the service with a small configuration by consolidating all of them in the copying machine 17-1 in this way.

The mail server 30 is a mail server that receives the print data from the data processing / transmitting means 13 and sends the print data to the receiving / printing apparatus 40.
MTP (Simple Mail Transfer)
Protocol server 31 and POP3 (Post)
It is composed of the Office Protocol 3) server 32 and the like.

The SMTP server 31 receives the key mail from the transmitting side device 10. The POP3 server 32 temporarily stores the key mail transmitted from the SMTP server 31 through the network in the mailbox for the receiving printing device 40 provided in the POP3 server 32.

The receiving and printing device 40, as shown in FIG.
Mail receiving means 41, withdrawing means 42, and printing means 43
And have. The mail receiving means 41 receives the key mail from the mail server 30 (POP3 server 32) upon confirming the arrival of the new mail using the mail tool. When the key mail is opened in the mail receiving means 41, the withdrawal program included in the key mail is automatically started.

The withdrawing means 42 automatically accesses the storage device 20 through the network based on the activated withdrawal program, and downloads the print data retrieved and retrieved with the key information A. Printing means 43
Prints out the print data from the drawer 42. Since this print data is PDL data, the printing means 43
It is possible to print immediately with. Also, the printing means 4
When the print processing of the print data is completed, 3 transmits a print completion notification to the storage device 20.

The receiving and printing apparatus 40 is, for example, an integrated type copying machine 45 compatible with a network.
-1, a copy machine 45-2, an MFP 45-3, a printer 45-4 and the like. In addition, the reception printing device 40 includes two or more copying machines 45-1 and 45-
2. It can also be configured by a compound device in which the MFP 45-3, the printer 45-4, and the like are combined. These configurations will be described later in the second and third embodiments.

Although only one receiving and printing device 40 is provided in FIG. 1, the number of receiving and printing devices 40 is not limited to one, and two or more can be provided. However, in order for each reception printing device 40 to execute the withdrawal program on the HTML mail, the mail tool operating in the reception printing device 40 must be able to receive the HTML mail. Further, the delivery program for transmitting the key mail from the transmission side device 10 also needs to be able to transmit the HTML mail.

The respective devices (the sending side device 10, the storage device 20, the mail server 30, and the receiving printing device 40) constituting the network printing system 1 are connected to each other via a network (not shown). The network may be any suitable public line, commercial line or leased line known in the related art, and each network may be the same or different. The network may be unidirectional or bidirectional.

The network is a line to which each device can be connected wirelessly or by wire, and can be constituted by, for example, a mobile terminal network, a public line network, a dedicated line network, an internet line network, an intranet network, or the like. Specifically, for example, an internet line network, an intranet network, a LAN (Local Area Network)
k), WAN (Wide Area Network)
k), analog telephone network, digital telephone network (for example,
ISDN (Integral Service Dig)
ital network) and wireless communication networks (for example, mobile phone networks, PHS (Personal Ha).
ndyphone System) and satellite broadcasting)
Among these, one or a combination of two or more can be used.

Note that, between the network and each device,
If necessary, security measures can be taken and a relay device can be provided. Security measures include building a security system and installing a firewall. Also, as the relay device, a repeater,
There are bridges, routers, brutas, hubs, terminators, gateways, etc. As for this relay device, the device to be used differs depending on the connection form in each device and the communication protocol used.

Each unit constituting the network printing system 1 may be an independent device connected to each other through a network, or a part of the units may be physically configured as a module configured in the same computer. You may. For example, the data processing transmission means 13
May be configured in the transmission side device 10.

In the network printing system 1, the proof of the content of the print data stored in the storage device 20 and the proof that the print data has been transmitted from the transmission side device 10 to the reception printing device 40. Means may further be included. By including this proof means,
It is possible to prove whether the print data has not been tampered with by the sending side or the receiving side, or whether it has been reliably received by the receiving printing device 40.

When proof is required, the certifying means sends the print data accumulated in the accumulating device 20 and the transmission source information and the destination information accumulated in the accumulating device 20 together with the print data to a specific receiving printing device through the network. 40
Send to. As a result, the print data, the transmission source information, and the destination information can be confirmed in the reception printing device 40.

Briefly, the proving means sends a key mail including key information associated with the print data to a specific receiving printing device 40 through the network. Note that the DNS server, the proxy server, and the like used in the process of sending the e-mail are not important elements in this embodiment, so the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the destination information input function will be described. A plurality of pieces of destination information are stored in the storage means 14 in advance. Then, the destination information input means 1 of the transmitting side device 10
5 is taken out from the storage means 14 by the user's operation, displayed on the display means 16, and one or more destination information is selected and sent to the data processing transmission means 13.

For example, when the transmission side device 10 is a copying machine and the print manuscript generating means 11 has a scanner function, the registered destinations as the "scan data destination" on the display means 16 are as follows. Is displayed in.

"PC folder" "PC A" "PC B" "PC C" "Manual input" "EMail address" "A01@bbb.co.jp" "A02@bbb.co.jp" "A03@bbb.co.jp"

Here, for example, "a03@bbb.c"
o. When "jp" is selected, this "a03 @ bb"
b. co. jp ”is sent to the data processing transmission means 13. Further, in a type such as a wide format copying machine in which the scanner unit and the controller (PC) are separated, for example, when "a03@bbb.co.jp" is selected, the PC that is the controller is actually selected. Transfer to a folder, the file name of the print data at that time becomes "a03@bbb.co.jp (001)", and the file name becomes the destination information.

Note that (001) is a cumulative number when there are files with the same destination. If the destination of the print data is fixed, the data processing transmission means 13
It is also possible to directly take out one or more destination information corresponding to the fixed destination from the storage means 14 and embed it in the mail header of the key mail.

Next, the key information will be described. As the key information, a personal identification number using a large known prime number or a random number can be used. The number of sets and the number of digits may not be fixed and may be generated by changing for each key information, and may include an alphabet or the like. If this key information is not manually input in any process and is automatically generated or selected in the data processing transmission means, the complexity and length are not substantially limited.

Further, the key information includes a destination identification symbol that identifies the receiving printing device 40. Therefore, when the storage device 20 receives the key information, the storage device 20 records, based on the destination identification symbol, the distributed information indicating that it has been distributed to the specific receiving printing device 40 in association with the corresponding print data. By doing so, when delivering the same print data to a plurality of receiving printing devices 40, it can be confirmed that each receiving printing device 40 has been delivered.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the key information is embedded in at least a part of the withdrawal program included in the key mail so that it cannot be easily recognized or decrypted as the key information. It is preferable that it is not the above program. Various embedding methods are known, but they are not specified.

The key information includes data storage server specifying information for specifying the data storage server which is the storage device 20 connected to the network, for example, a plurality of DB servers or IP addresses of a group of Web servers and DB servers. The display may have a hierarchical structure including the display, and in the case where the storage device 20 is determined in advance, the server identification information may be data constituting the withdrawal program separately from the key information. Therefore, the server identification information is
It may not be included in the key mail but may be previously stored in the reception printing apparatus 40.

Next, the withdrawal program will be described. The withdrawal program is a program that causes the receiving printing device 40 to perform a process of extracting (downloading) the print data stored in the storage device 20 through the network. This withdrawal program is installed in the receiving and printing apparatus 40 in advance in the BIOS (Basic).
Input / Output System) and OS (O
It operates by using the operating system (performing System) or the like.

The withdrawal program is described in HTML format. When the key mail including the withdrawal program is opened by using the mail tool in the receiving / printing device 40, the withdrawal program automatically operates to receive and print. Device 4
In 0, the storage device 20 in which print data is stored is accessed, and the print data specified by the key information is downloaded and displayed in the mail tool. Therefore, the person who operates the receiving and printing device 40 to receive the key mail can receive the mail by the same operation as a normal electronic mail without performing a special operation.

Incidentally, the operation of the drawer program may require some operation in the receiving and printing device 40. For example, in the receiving printing device 40, the operation of the drawer program can be started by an operation of inputting an ID or a password. In this way, important print data such as transaction documents can be received only by the person designated as the destination of the electronic mail.

Further, the withdrawal program is the receiving and printing device 4
It may be configured not to operate when transferred from 0. This can be realized by, for example, the withdrawal program detecting the information of the first mail header that remains as it is or partially in the transferred mail, and if it does not perform the withdrawal. This makes it difficult to access the print data except for the specific receiving and printing device 40.

Further, it is possible to incorporate a master key for accessing the Web server into the withdrawal program. In addition, the withdrawal program included in the key mail is
The final withdrawal program may be wholly or only partly. However, when only a part of it is included in the key mail, the remaining part must be prepared in the reception printing device 40.

Next, an example of the withdrawal program will be described. The withdrawal program can have the following configuration, for example. If the destination is a printer, add "! R! LOAD, www.aaa / bbb / ccc / key = xxxx" in the body of the email.
Describe the printer such as "xxxxxxxxxxxxx: EXIT:". "!
Up to "R! LOAD", commands for causing the reception printing device 40 to start downloading the file.

“Www.aaa/bbb/ccc/” indicates the address of the print data stored in the storage device 20. "Key = xxxx
"xxxxxxxxxxxxx" is a key for allowing the download. “EXIT:” indicates the end of the withdrawal program.

Further, in the receiving / printing apparatus 40, this withdrawal program is activated. The activated withdrawal program causes the receiving and printing device 40 to operate and the W of the storage device 20 to be operated.
Access the eb server "www.aaa/bbb/ccc" and enter "key = x
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ”, the print data is downloaded when the key in the storage device 20 and the mathematical relationship match. Since this print data is converted to PDL, it is immediately printed after downloading.

Next, the operation procedure of the network printing system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The figure is an operation procedure diagram showing the operation of the network printing system of the present embodiment.

Print data is generated in the print manuscript generating means 11 of the transmitting side device 10 (step 10). The generated print data includes, for example, an image read by the scanner unit 11-2. Further, the destination information is input in the data processing transmission means 13 (step 11).

The print data is sent from the print manuscript generating means 11 to the print data creating means 12 and converted into PDL data (step 12). The print data converted into the PDL data is sent to the data processing transmission means 13 and further transferred to the storage device 20 (step 13).

The transferred print data is stored in the storage device 20 (step 14), and further, key information creation information for this print data is generated (step 15). Then, the data processing transmission means 13 makes an inquiry to the storage device 20 (step 16). In response to this inquiry, the storage device 20
The key information creation information is returned from the data processing transmitting means 13 (step 17).

In the data processing and transmitting means 13, the key information A and the key information B are generated based on the returned key information creation information (step 18). Further, a withdrawal program in which the key information A is embedded and a key mail including this withdrawal program are respectively generated (steps 19 and 20).

The generated key mail is transmitted from the data processing transmission means 13 to the mail server 30 through the network based on the destination information (step 2).
1). The mail receiving means 41 of the receiving and printing device 40 confirms whether or not the key mail is received by the mail server 30 (step 22). Mail server 30
At, as a response to the receipt confirmation of the key mail,
Notification indicating whether mail has been received (reception confirmation response notification)
Is sent to the mail receiving means 41 (step 2)
3).

In the mail receiving means 41, when the contents of the reception confirmation response notice are confirmed and the reception of the key mail is indicated, the mail server 30 is accessed and the key mail is received (step 24). When the received key mail is opened, the withdrawal program included in the key mail is automatically started (step 25).

Based on this activated withdrawal program,
The storage device 20 is accessed from the drawing means 42 (step 26). When this access is approved by the storage device 20 (step 27), the storage device 20 is removed from the withdrawing means 42.
Key information (key information A) is transmitted to (step 2
8).

In the storage device 20, the print data (PDL data) corresponding to the received key information A is retrieved,
It is transmitted to the withdrawing means 42 (step 29, step 3).
0). That is, the withdrawing means 42 accesses the storage device 20 through the network based on the withdrawal program and downloads the print data from the storage device 20. Then, the print data (PDL data) received by the drawing means 42 is sent to the printing means 43 and printed out (step 31).

When the printing output is completed, the printing means 43 sends a printing completion notice to the storage device 20 (step 32). Based on the received print completion notification, the print data and the key information B are erased in the storage device 20 (step 33).

Next, a specific configuration of the network printing system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the network printing system 1 of the present invention includes, for example, a wide format copier 17-1 and a personal computer (PC) 18 as a transmission side device 10, and an FTP server as a storage device 20. 21 and the Web server 22, the SMTP server 31 and the POP3 server 32 as the mail server 30, the personal computer (PC) 44 as the receiving printing device 40, and the wide format copying machine 45.
Can be provided respectively.

Here, the copying machine 17-1 of the transmission side apparatus 10
As shown in FIG. 8, the print manuscript generation means 11 is provided, and the PC 18 is provided with print data creation means 12, data processing transmission means 13, storage means 14, destination information input means 15 and display means 16, respectively. There is. Further, the PC 44 of the receiving / printing apparatus 40 has a mail receiving means 41 and a withdrawing means 42, and the copying machine 45 has a printing means 43, as shown in FIG.

In this specific example, the purpose is to transfer the drawing (print data) from the wide format copying machine 17-1 to the copying machine 45 of the same type at a remote place.
The wide format is a copying machine that supports sizes such as A0 and A1. For example, when monochrome image data of 600 dpi at A0 is taken in by a wide format, it is about 64 MByte without compression, and even if it is compressed, it cannot be sent by e-mail.

Therefore, in the present invention, the following procedure is used.
Perform this large data transmission. First, copy machine 17
-1, the drawing to be transmitted is set, and s is displayed on the destination information input means 15 (for example, the operation panel).
The can to folder function is selected and the start button is pressed in the same way as copying is done. Reading of the drawing is started based on the pressing of the start button, and the read image data is sent to and stored in a folder in the hard disk (HDD) of the PC 18.

The data format of this image data is
JPEG (Joint photographic e)
xpert group) or an existing image data format such as TIFF, or an application format such as PDF.

Next, the PC 18 executes a key mail transmission operation. The key mail is the electronic mail format of the key information corresponding to the image data and the withdrawal program. In the PC 18, when the destination information of the transmission destination, that is, the electronic mail address is input, the key information B corresponding to the image data stored in the folder is generated, and further the image data is
The data is converted into a data format that can be printed by the copy machine 45 of the destination, and is transferred to the FTP server 21 on the Internet
It is transferred together with the key information B.

When the transfer is completed, the key information A and the withdrawal program which are paired with the key information B are generated, and the key mail including the key information A and the withdrawal program is sent to the electronic mail address of the copying machine 45. It In addition,
Since the key mail is also an electronic mail, it is possible to add a normal communication message. For example, it is possible to add a description of the drawings, instructions, and the like.

The print data uploaded to the FTP server 21 in the Web server 22 is distributed via the Internet after the key verification. Where the web
The withdrawal program that acts on the server 22 is, for example,
It is composed of the address information of the print data in the Web server 22 and its drawing command.

When converting the print data into PDF data or the like in the copying machine 17-1, the print data creating means 12 is provided in the copying machine 17-1. Although the data processing transmission means 13 operates on the PC 18, the destination information may be input on the PC 18 or the destination information input means 15 (for example, operation panel) of the copying machine 17-1. However, it may be transmitted to the PC 18.

On the PC 44 which has received the key mail from the POP3 server 32, the communication text included in the key mail is displayed. By displaying this message, the user on the receiving side decides to start printing according to the message. The withdrawal program is executed based on the print start operation in the PC 44, the web server 22 is logged in, and the desired print data is downloaded using the key information A. This file is transferred to the copier 45 on the recipient side and printed as it is.

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the network printing system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a diagram showing a specific configuration of the network printing system of the present embodiment.

This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that
The configurations of the transmission side device and the reception printing device are different. That is, in the first embodiment, the print manuscript generating means of the transmission side device and the printing means of the receiving printing device are configured by a wide format copying machine, whereas in the present embodiment, the print manuscript generating means and the printing manuscript are printed. The means comprises a copy machine, an MFP or a scanner machine. Other components are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, in FIG.
Constituent parts similar to those are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 9, the print manuscript generating means 11 of the transmission side device 10 is a copy machine (COPY) 17-1,
MFP 17-3 or scanner (SCANNER)
It is composed of 17-3. In this case, the copy machine 17-
2. The image read by the MFP 17-3 or the scanner 17-4 is generated as print data and sent to the PC 18.

With this arrangement, the copy machine 17-
2, the image read by the MFP 17-3 or the scanner 17-4 can also be transferred to the wide format 45-1 forming the reception printing apparatus 40 and printed out. In particular, the print data having an image becomes large in size, but in the present embodiment, the print data is transferred by a route different from the key mail (that is, the print data is transmitted via the FTP server 21 and the Web server 22). To the PC 44, the key mail is the SMTP server 31
And the print data is sent to the PC 33 via the POP3 server 32), so that the print data can be transferred regardless of its size.

In the network printing system 1, as shown in FIG. 10, the print manuscript generating means 11 of the transmitting side device 10 is a wide format copying machine 17-1 and the printing means 43 of the receiving printing device 40 is a copying machine. 45-2, MF
It can also be configured by the P45-3 or the printer 45-4. With such a configuration, the print data downloaded from the Web server 22 by the PC 44 is transferred to the copy machine 45-2, the MFP 45-3, or the printer 45-4.
Can be printed out.

Further, the network printing system 1 is
As shown in FIG. 11, both the printing document generation means 11 of the transmission side device 10 and the printing means 43 of the reception printing device 40 are connected to the copiers (17-1, 45-1), the MFP (17-).
2, 45-2) or scanner (17-3, 45-)
It can also be configured in 3). With this configuration,
The image read by the copy machine 17-2, the MFP 17-3 or the scanner machine 17-4 is copied to the copy machine 45-2, M.
It can be printed out by the FP 45-3 or the printer 45-4.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the network printing system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. This figure is a diagram showing a specific configuration of the network printing system of the present embodiment.

This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that
The configurations of the transmission side device and the reception printing device are different. That is, in the first embodiment, the transmission side device and the reception printing device are respectively configured by a wide format copying machine and a personal computer, whereas in the present embodiment,
The transmission side device and the reception printing device are constituted by a single wide format copier, copier, MFP or scanner. Other components are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, in FIG. 12, the same components as those in FIG. 7 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 12, in the network printing system 1, the transmission side device 10 and the reception printing device 40 are composed of wide format copying machines 19-1 and 46-1. That is, the copying machine 19-1 includes various means (printing manuscript generating means 11, print data creating means 12, data processing transmitting means 13, storage means 14, destination information inputting means 15 and display means included in the transmitting side device 10. 16)
On the other hand, the copying machine 46-1 is provided with each means (mail receiving means 41, withdrawing means 42 and printing means 43) of the reception printing device 40.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, one or both of the transmission side device 10 and the reception printing device 40 are connected to a copying machine (19-2, 46-2), an MFP (19-3, 4).
6-3) or a printer (19-4, 46-4). When the reception printing apparatus 40 is configured by the printer 46-4, this printer 46-4
A network interface card can also be used for. With such a configuration, the number of components of the network printing system can be reduced.

The network printing system of the present invention may be an arbitrary combination of the network printing systems of the first embodiment, the second embodiment and the third embodiment.

[0135]

As described above, according to the present invention, the print data is transferred from the transmission side device to the reception printing device through a route different from the key mail, so that regardless of the data size of the print data. The transfer becomes possible. Also, since the sending of the key mail from the sending side device to the mail server is executed after the transfer of the print data from the sending side device to the storage device is completed, the receiving printing device receives the key mail and then executes the withdrawal program. Based on the execution of, the print data can be downloaded from the storage device and printed out quickly and reliably. Furthermore, in the transmitting device,
Since the print data is converted into the printer description language (PDL data) in advance, the print data can be automatically executed in the receiving printing device as it is when the print data is downloaded from the storage device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network printing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the network printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing still another configuration of the network printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a print destination setting screen displayed on a display unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the network printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation procedure diagram showing an operation of the network printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of a network printing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of a network printing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another specific configuration of the network printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing still another specific configuration of the network printing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of a network printing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another specific configuration of the network printing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing still another specific configuration of the network printing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another specific configuration of the network printing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional compound mail transmission system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Network printing system 10 Sending side device 11 Print manuscript generation means 11-1 Application 11-2 Scanner section 11-3 Scanner means 12 Print data creation means 13 Data processing transmission means 14 storage means 15 Address information input means 16 Display means 17-1 Wide format 17-2 Copy machine 17-3 MFP 17-4 Scanner 18 Personal Computer (PC) 19-1 Wide format 19-2 Copy machine 19-3 MFP 19-4 Scanner 20 Storage device 21 FTP server 22 Web server 30 mail server 31 SMTP server 32 POP3 server 40 Receiving printing device 41 Mail receiving means 42 Withdrawal means 43 printing means 44 Personal Computer (PC) 45-1 wide format 45-2 Copy machine 45-3 MFP 45-4 Printer 46-1 wide format 46-2 Copy machine 46-3 MFP 46-4 Printer 50 personal computer 60 scanner machine 70 Data processing transmitter 80 Controller built-in device 100 compound mail transmission system 110 transmitter 111 Separation means 112 Transmission means 120 First transmission device 130 Second transmission device 131 storage means 140 receiver 141 First receiving means 142 Access requesting means 143 Second receiving means

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 1/32 H04N 1/32 Z (72) Inventor Hiroshi Sakamoto 2-14-9 Tamagawadai, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo Kyocera Corporation Tokyo Yoga Works (72) Inventor Masakazu Morisato 3365-10 F Term, Kimagase, Sekijuku-cho, Higashi-Katsushika-gun, Chiba Prefecture (Reference) 2C061 AP01 AP04 AP07 HJ08 HQ17 5B021 AA01 AA02 BB04 DD12 5C062 AA05 AA14 AA29 AB22 AB38 AB42 AC41 AC42 AC43 AF00 BA04 BD09 5C075 AB90 CA14 CD25

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A transmission side device for generating print data, a withdrawal program, and an electronic mail containing this withdrawal program, a storage device for storing the print data from the transmission side device, and a transmission side device. And a receiving printing device for downloading the print data from the storage device based on the withdrawal program included in the electronic mail from the mail server. The transmission side device transmits the e-mail to the mail server after the transfer of the print data to the storage device is completed, and the reception printing device prints the downloaded print data. And a network printing system. 2. The storage device generates key information creation information for the print data, and the transmission side device creates first and second key information based on the key information creation information from the storage device. At the same time, the generated first key information is embedded in the withdrawal program, and an electronic mail including the withdrawal program is generated and transmitted to the mail server, and the storage device stores the first key information from the transmission side device. Two-key information and the print data are stored in association with each other, and the receiving and printing device accesses the storage device based on the withdrawal program included in the electronic mail from the mail server and embeds in the withdrawal program. 2. The print data corresponding to the first key information that has been retrieved is retrieved, downloaded, and printed. Network printing system. 3. The transmission side device converts the print data into a printer description language in advance, and the reception printing device automatically starts printing the downloaded print data. The network printing system according to claim 1. 4. The transmission side device, a print manuscript generating means for generating the print data, a print data generating means for converting the print data into the printer description language, and transmitting the print data to the storage device. At the same time, there is provided a data processing transmission means for generating the electronic mail including the withdrawal program and transmitting the electronic mail to the mail server.
2. The network printing system according to 2 or 3. 5. The network according to claim 4, wherein the transmission side device is a personal computer, the print manuscript generating means is application software, and the print data generating means is a printer driver. Printing system. 6. The transmission side device comprises a copying machine or a multi-function peripheral device, and the printed document generating means comprises a scanner section of the copying machine or the multi-function peripheral device.
The described network printing system. 7. The network printing system according to claim 4, wherein the print manuscript generating means comprises a scanner. 8. The network printing system according to claim 4, wherein the print manuscript generating means is an imaging device such as a digital camera. 9. A scanner unit of the copying machine, which constitutes the print manuscript generating unit, a scanner unit of the multi-function peripheral device,
9. The network printing system according to claim 6, wherein the scanner machine or the imaging device has the print data creating means. 10. The network printing system according to claim 4, wherein the transmission side device is the scanner machine or the imaging device. 11. The personal computer, the copying machine, the multi-function peripheral device, which constitute the transmission-side device,
The network printing system according to any one of claims 4 to 10, wherein the scanner machine or the imaging device has the storage device. 12. The network printing system according to claim 1, wherein the reception printing device comprises the copying machine, the multi-function peripheral device, or a printer. 13. The transmission side device generates print data, the storage device generates key information creation information based on the print data from the transmission side device, and the transmission side device outputs the key information creation information from the storage device. Generating first and second key information based on the key information creation information, generating a withdrawal program in which the generated first key information is embedded, and an electronic mail including this withdrawal program,
The generated e-mail is transmitted to a mail server and the second key information is transmitted to the storage device, and the storage device stores the print data and the second key information in association with each other, and the receiving printing device. However, based on the withdrawal program included in the electronic mail from the mail server, the print data corresponding to the first key information is retrieved from the storage device, and the retrieved print data is downloaded and printed. A network printing method characterized by. 14. An e-mail containing a withdrawal program for transferring print data printed out by a receiving printing device to a storage device and causing the receiving printing device to download the print data from the storage device. A network printing program that causes a transmitting side device to execute a process of transmitting to the receiving printing device via a server, wherein the print data is transferred to the storage device, and key information creation information generated based on the print data. From the storage device, generates first and second key information based on the received key information creation information, and the withdrawal program in which the generated first key information is embedded, and the withdrawal program including the withdrawal program. And an e-mail, the generated e-mail to the mail server, and the second key information. Network printing program for causing to execute a process of transmitting each to the storage device to the transmitting-side apparatus.